Last checked: April 2026. Provider names, rates, and NHK rules are subject to change — verify current details with the relevant providers.
Setting up utilities in Japan as a foreign resident involves paperwork in Japanese, automated payment systems, and one particularly contentious charge — the NHK fee. This guide walks through each service so you know what to expect when you move in.
Electricity (電気)
Japan’s electricity market was deregulated in 2016, allowing consumers to choose their supplier. In practice, most residents use the regional incumbent or a bundled plan from their internet or mobile provider.
Key Regional Providers
- Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) — Tokyo and greater Kanto
- Kansai Electric Power (Kepco) — Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe area
- Chubu Electric Power (Chuden) — Nagoya and Chubu region
- Hokkaido Electric, Tohoku Electric, Chugoku Electric, Shikoku Electric, Kyushu Electric — Regional incumbents
How to Register
When you move into a new apartment, electricity is typically already connected but not active in your name. To activate:
- Find the meter box in your apartment or building entrance — the regional provider’s name is usually printed there.
- Contact the provider by phone or online (most have English support lines or multilingual web forms). Provide: move-in date, property address, meter number (if visible), your name, and bank account for direct debit.
- Electricity is activated same-day or within 24 hours in most cases.
Bills arrive monthly and can be paid by bank direct debit (kōza furikomi), convenience store, or credit card. Setting up direct debit (requires a Japanese bank account) is strongly recommended to avoid missing payments. For setting up a bank account, see Banking in Japan.
Gas (ガス)
Gas in Japan is either piped (toshi gasu — city gas) or bottled propane (purōpan gasu / LP gasu). City gas is more common in urban areas; propane is used in older buildings and rural areas. The gas company is often the same regional incumbent as electricity, or sometimes a separate company.
Important: Gas requires a move-in inspection. Unlike electricity, a gas company representative must physically visit your apartment to reconnect the supply and check safety. Schedule this in advance — same-day appointments are sometimes available but not guaranteed. You must be present.
- Tokyo Gas — Tokyo and Kanto (bilingual support, online procedures)
- Osaka Gas (Daigas) — Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe area
- Toho Gas — Nagoya/Chubu region
Water (水道)
Water services are operated by local municipal governments. You typically notify the local waterworks bureau (suidōkyoku) when moving in and out. In some areas, this is handled by the landlord or property manager as part of the lease; confirm with your real estate agent. Water bills arrive every two months in many areas.
Japan’s tap water is safe to drink nationwide — it is among the cleanest in the world. Many Japanese people use tap water directly or with a simple countertop filter.
Internet (インターネット)
Japan has excellent broadband infrastructure. Fiber-optic (光回線, hikari kaisen) is available in most urban and suburban apartments, delivering speeds of 1 Gbps for approximately ¥4,000–6,000/month.
Main Providers
- NTT Hikari (Flets Hikari) — The underlying fiber network used by many ISPs; you choose an ISP on top of the NTT infrastructure (e.g., So-net, Nifty, IIJ)
- NURO Hikari — Offers very high speeds (2 Gbps) at competitive prices; limited to certain buildings and areas
- au Hikari — KDDI’s fiber service, often bundled with au mobile
- Softbank Hikari / SoftBank Air — Softbank’s fiber and home wireless options
Setup Considerations
- Check your building’s infrastructure — Not all apartments support fiber installation. Ask your landlord before signing up. Some buildings have a contracted provider that all residents use.
- Installation time — Fiber installation can take 2–6 weeks due to construction scheduling. Plan ahead when moving.
- Pocket Wi-Fi / SIM card as a bridge — Use a pocket Wi-Fi router or mobile SIM while waiting for fiber installation. See our Pocket Wi-Fi guide and Phone Plans for Residents.
- English support — Many providers have limited English support. GMO Internet (Interlink), IIJ, and Sakura Internet have better English documentation.
NHK Subscription Fee (NHK受信料)
The NHK subscription fee is Japan’s most debated household charge. Under Japan’s Broadcast Law (Hōsō-hō), anyone who installs a device capable of receiving NHK broadcasts — in practice, a television, or in recent rulings, certain devices with TV tuners — is legally obligated to enter into a subscription agreement with NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster.
Key points:
- The fee (as of 2024) is approximately ¥1,225/month for terrestrial only (standard), or ¥2,170/month for terrestrial + satellite, payable by direct debit or convenience store.
- The obligation applies to possession of a TV or TV-capable device — not to watching NHK or having a TV aerial connected.
- NHK collectors do visit apartments, particularly new move-ins. You are not legally required to answer the door, but the obligation exists if you own a TV.
- Paying online or by direct debit (rather than to a collector) is recommended; collectors accepting cash at the door have been associated with high-pressure tactics (this is a known issue; NHK officially discourages it).
- Discounts are available for: single-occupancy households with lower incomes, households receiving social welfare (seikatsu hogo), and students in dormitories.
- If you do not own a TV or TV-capable device, sign the “no receiving device” form (uketsuke kotonari todoke) when an NHK representative visits — this exempts you.
Postal Service and Address Registration
Japan Post (Nihon Yūbin) provides reliable mail and parcel delivery. When moving, notify Japan Post of your address change via their online or in-office tenkyo todoke service — your mail will be forwarded for one year. Your address is also your jūsho for My Number registration, driver’s license, tax, and bank account purposes.
For the full checklist of administrative tasks after arriving in Japan — including residence registration (jūmin tōroku), My Number card, and National Health Insurance enrollment — see First Steps After Arriving in Japan.